Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-09


thing was explained to him. Next to
the rotunda or museum, where nothing
seemed 10 have attracted his attention
more than the ingenious machine by
which, through O ball OF quicksilver
running down polished plate and
then striking a spring which cants the
plate, the nearest approach to per-
petual motion which has ever been Sc
cured is effected. BY the time bar
racks and stables had been in
spected the Russian and the young
Epelishmen we're fast friends in
stead of "natural foes" and so when
evening came Skobeleff was very 10th
TO return to London without seeing
more of the British artillery head
Quarters. In default OF a good hotel,
which did not then and probably does
not now exist, he was able on the fringe
of the common to find a bed 10 an
oflicers clearinghouse. In the morn
ing he sought an outfitter's, where be
was able to purchase enough to main
tain his personal comfort, and his
Young friends put him through the
whole routine OF life in Woolwich.
The day after that they took him over
the Royal Arsenal, the great
manufacturing and store establish
ment, in which England, with mon
strous faulty, keeps all her army and
many of her navy eggs in one basket.
A second day was devoted to this. Then
there came cavalry day, with the dra-
coon regiment and the horse artillery
only, and so on to the end of the week,
when Skobeleff awoke to the fact that
even by travelling day and night he
could hardly get back to st. Peters
burg within the limit OF his leave. 1t
was out of the question for him 70 tele-
graph for an extension OF furlough,
seeing his leave was for Bulgaria aud the
visit to London was in the nature OF
what English school-boys cali playing
tfu0nt and French lads .(aiSGnt Pec0te
Luissonitrc. 60, in the afternoon OF
his sixth day at Woolwich, he reluct-
lantly took the train TO London, and
left the same evening for Brussels.
Thus, as he said himself, in bis weeks
Witt to London, ull that Skobcleff saw
Of it was from the windows OF a railway
carriage and in the three two-mile
drives through Whitehall and Victoria
street. But, he was wont to add, 81
know it very well from the map, and !
shall be able TO find my way about 1t
whether ! come to visit it again private
w, rs intend at the first opportunity,
or come there ms a prisoner OF war, or
in the course Of my duty, when our
troops occupy it," And at this he would
laugh heartily and shake hands warmly
with every Englishman within reach.
So that one did not quite know whether
lie was serious or jocose on the
subject. And, indeed, one was not
always sure of this at the best OF times
with this brilliant Russian. When ho
was last in Paris, and Just before he
made that foolish speech to the students
in which he preached crusade against
Germany, "the common enemy OF
France and Russia" he had written in
dicaiing his intention Of going for Z
few days to London TO look up his Eng
lish friends who had little prellmina-
~ gathering and arrangedquIte round
II festivities for him, including several
dinners and suppers at military and Bo-
hemian clubs, but his recall to Russia
On account Of the speech just mentioned
stopped all chance of his tip to Eng
hand, and he teleRraphed at once hi.
regrets and his thankiulEess. Alas
he returned to holy Russia but ID die
Scandalous stories were put about con
corning The manner OF his death bat
many Russians and some French, Nnc
here and there an Englishman, main
tanned that he was put out OF the WA
in the interest Of the German alliance
and because be, the idol of the army,
MAS getting TO be too powerful. for the
people on the Nova. So perished on.
# the greatest soldiers that ever lived
lot, however, one OF the greatest gene
rails. There is difference.